The ABC Cinema.(The Ritz)

Old pic taken at Hereford's A.B.C. Cinema (the Ritz) Commercial Road sometime in the late 1940s early 1950s.The cinema was opened in January 1938 on the site of the old city gaol by "Associated British Cinema's" and had a capacity of 1000 seats.I'm not sure what is being marked on this occasion.The lady front left holding the piece of paper is Aida Harris who worked at the cinema at the time.As you can see the Commissionaires and Usherette's were a very smart bunch as was the case in all cinemas in those days.

Unfortunately in the mid 1970s with the decline of cinema the "stalls" were sold off and turned into a Bingo Club and some years later converted into a Nightclub.

Picture; Mr.Keith Harris.

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Belmont Abbey.

Old Ariel Postcard image of Belmont Abbey taken looking northwards towards Hereford.

The abbey was founded in 1859 by Benedictine Monks following the rule of St Benedict.As you can see it is certainly not the view you would see today.The gardens long gone now covered with buildings being used by "Hereford Health Authority".North of the Abbey not a house to be seen on what is now Belmont Housing Estate.

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The Hewat Pavilion.

With a name like "The Hewat Pavilion" you would expect this building to be overlooking a cricket pitch.This is not the case and is another of Hereford's long lost treasures.The houses in the background still remain today although you may not be able to get this view nowadays.

This building was opened in 1927 as an orthopaedic ward backing on to Nelson Street on the site of "The General Hospital".It was thought in those days that a open air ward was especially good for the treatment of tuberculosis and certain other ailments, so it had no front wall, only curtains to protect patients from the elements.The name Hewat Pavilion came from Mrs.Hewat who's husband was a generous supporter of the hospital and had recently passed away.